What are the potential side effects and complications for myself from an epidural?
The most common side effect is the transient soreness you may feel in your back where the epidural was placed. This is similar to the discomfort you may have from the IV needle in your arm. The procedure is done in a sterile fashion and the infection rate is extremely low. Any significant bleeding from LEA is rare. There is a 1-3% incidence of what’s often called a “spinal headache” after LEA. A spinal headache usually occurs the next day and it worsens whenever you try to sit up or stand. Most spinal headaches get better on their own or can be treated with ibuprofen, intravenous fluids, and caffeine. Infrequently, some patients with severe or persistent headache may require an “epidural blood patch”, in which a small amount of the patient’s own blood is injected through an epidural needle into the epidural space. LEA often causes a small transient drop in blood pressure, which is normal. If your blood pressure changes too much, you may start to feel dizzy or nauseated. This is infrequ
